The exotic physalis is a perennial plant, but not a hardy one. Therefore, the Cape gooseberry must be well protected in winter and brought to a suitable location. Because outdoors, in the local latitudes, it will not usually survive a winter unprotected. Therefore, before temperatures drop below freezing, measures must be taken to overwinter the Physalis. Even during the hibernation, the plant needs some time for care.
hardiness
Cape gooseberry hardy?
Unfortunately, the delicious fruit plant is not hardy, but it can be cultivated for several years. Because even if the note "annual" is often written on the seed packets in the trade, this is not entirely true. Because in its original, subtropical habitat, the Andean berry can be between eight and ten years old. If the plant is well protected in the local winter, hobby gardeners can enjoy the fast-growing, herbaceous plant with the delicious berries for more than a year. Therefore, the following should be observed when sowing or planting for the first time.
- ideally cultivated in a bucket
- can be brought to a sheltered place in winter
- Outdoor plants can also be protected in winter
- but is often difficult in very cold winters
- it is not always possible to overwinter bedding shrubs
The Cape gooseberry does not tolerate any frost, temperatures between 10° and 12° Celsius are ideal for them in winter.
hibernate
period for hibernation
The physalis must be protected from the icy temperatures during the period when frosty nights are to be expected. Therefore, by the end of October at the latest, the plant can be brought to its winter location, where it will remain for the next few months. The first frosty nights can be expected from the beginning of November. In the spring, she is therefore not allowed to go outside too early again, because here, too, the nights in particular can still be quite cold. However, on warm days she can go out on the terrace or balcony, but has to be brought inside again at night. Only after the ice saints in mid-May can the Cape gooseberry move out of its winter quarters again.
location
Bright location in winter
It is ideal if the Cape Gooseberry can be provided with a bright and slightly warm location even in winter. So the ideal winter quarters are above all the following.
- a greenhouse
- an unheated conservatory
- alternatively a moderately heated conservatory
- little heated rooms in the apartment
- this could be the bedroom or guest room, for example
- at a window in a stairwell
The physalis should not be too warm in winter, so a location in a warm living room or dining room is not recommended. It is ideal when the temperatures are between 12° and 15° Celsius.
Dark location in winter
If there is no other location than a dark cellar or a dark garage for winter storage, the Cape gooseberry can also be brought here as a last resort for the cold season. However, there is no 100% guarantee that hibernation will succeed in a dark location. The dark room should be cooler than a bright wintering location. So this should be done as follows.
- Cut physalis back to the roots
- Plant forms rhizomes, i.e. root suckers
- new shoots will sprout from here in the spring
- pour little
- only when pads start to dry out
- do not fertilize
After hibernation, the plant must then slowly get used to light and warmth, water and fertilizer again as early as possible so that it has enough time to sprout again. But here, too, the physalis should not be brought outside too early, but move back inside during the first months of spring on cold nights.
preparation
Measures before hibernation
Before the physalis is brought to its winter location, the plant must be prepared. This should be started in autumn, around the end of September, so that the shrub can prepare for the harsh winter months. The following measures should be taken before moving to the winter quarters.
- from September/October slowly reduce the watering quantity
- stop fertilizing from the beginning of September
- harvest all ripe berries
- leave green berries on the bush
- can still ripen
- only need heat for this, no sun
- Cut back large plants by one to two thirds
It is helpful to cut back large plants before they move to winter quarters, especially when the pots are very heavy. This makes it easier to move the buckets. This pruning in autumn does not harm the Physalis. In the spring it will sprout again as vigorously.
maintenance
care in winter
The physalis also needs a certain amount of care in the winter quarters. Because the plant also grows in winter, these shoots should be removed regularly so that later in spring enough energy can be put into the new shoots and flowers that are now to be formed. Regular watering should also be ensured in winter. This should be done as follows.
- bright plants need more water
- water only when the root ball is dry
- Absolutely avoid waterlogging
- A moisture meter is ideal for this
- is available in well-stocked specialist shops
- Leave dark plants largely alone
- no fertilizers
- carry out regular inspections for pests
- Plant is attacked by whitefly or aphids
Above all, plants that are housed in a warmer and brighter area, such as a temperate conservatory, need this care in winter and should also be checked for pests every two to three days. Plants that have been cut back heavily in a darker and cooler place, on the other hand, will not be attacked as quickly.
After hibernation
Measures after the winter
After a long winter in a dark location, the physalis needs to be slowly acclimated to spring again. Plants that have been in the light have an easier time getting used to the brightness and sun again in spring after hibernation than those that have been in the dark over the winter. However, if there is a risk of frosty nights or even frosty days, the location must be carefully selected. So, after the winter, the procedure should be as follows.
- Water more frequently again in mid to late January
- fertilize for the first time
- then fertilize regularly again
- Physalis also get used to the light
- do this slowly
- Place the plant in a brighter, not too cold place
- bright staircase or an unheated conservatory are ideal
- on warmer winter days with sun on the terrace or balcony
- protect from direct sunlight
- spend the night hours back inside
These measures should be taken so that the physalis starts to sprout again at the end of winter. In this way, the plant slowly gets used to more brightness and sun. Above all, the Cape gooseberry needs a lot of light in early spring in order to be able to form the flowers for the later fruits. If it is too dark and cool for too long, this can damage the harvest in summer.
cuttings
However, if you have little space and cannot overwinter the entire plant or it has been cultivated outdoors, you can also use cuttings to overwinter them. This is done as follows.
- cut the physalis in autumn
- use woody shoots
- cut them to 15 to 20 cm
- put one or two eyes in potting soil
- remove all leaves
- put in a bright, slightly warm place
- 12° - 15° Celsius are ideal
- keep moist, avoid waterlogging
- transfer to tubs in spring
After hibernation, to get the cuttings used to the new location, proceed as with a large Physalis after hibernation.
Outdoors
If the Physalis has been cultivated in the bed, there are also ways to get it through the winter outdoors. And even large potted plants that cannot be brought inside during the frosty period can be protected in such a way that the Cape gooseberry is not damaged. Nevertheless, it is always better to move the plant to a covered and closed location in winter, because unfortunately there is no 100% guarantee that it will spend the winter outdoors. So this should be done as follows.
- Cover soil with mulch if plants are in beds
- Prune physalis heavily
- protect with plant fleece all around
- possibly put brushwood mats on the floor
- do not water extra
- only during a long dry season
- Place potted plants on a block of wood or styrofoam
- Wrap buckets with brushwood mats
- Wrap pruned physalis with plant fleece
- place in a sheltered, shady corner on the patio or balcony
With both overwintering forms, only a small amount of water should be paid attention to. Plants cultivated in tubs in particular can quickly suffer frost damage to the roots. If watering is necessary because the soil is dry, this should only be done on frost-free days. As soon as the days get warmer again, the plant fleece can be removed during the day so that the physalis can get more air and get used to the brightness again. However, if frosts can still occur at night, the fleece must be wrapped around the Cape gooseberry again during the night. Alternatively, a winter tent from a specialist shop can also be used.